The hospital bustled with activity as Mallory and Harris arrived. Scott, Heidi's husband, greeted them with a mixture of excitement and nervousness on his face.
"Hey, guys! Thanks for coming. We're almost there. Heidi's so strong."
Mallory and Harris exchanged a warm smile as they followed Scott to the waiting area, just outside the emergency room. Time felt like it was crawling as they waited, anticipating the arrival of the newest member of their close-knit group.
After a seemingly long 10 minutes, a nurse emerged from the emergency room, a welcoming smile on her face.
"Scott, she's ready for you. Heidi's about to start pushing. Are you ready?"
Scott, his face a mix of excitement and a touch of anxiety, nodded eagerly. "Absolutely, I'm ready. Let's do this!" He shifted to Mallory and Harris. "I'll leave you guys here."
"We'll wait here, Scott," Mallory said as Scott was ushered into the delivery room. Mallory turned to Harris, her eyes shimmering with anticipation and joy.
"Harris, I can't believe we're going to meet their baby so soon!"
Harris, equally excited, nodded in agreement.
"It's an incredible moment. I'm so happy for them. Soon, we'll get to hold their little one."
As they waited together, Mallory and Harris couldn't help but let their thoughts wander toward the future. They had created a unique family unit, where friends were as close as family, supporting one another through the highs and lows of life.
With each passing moment, the anticipation in the air grew, and their hearts swelled with joy, eager to welcome a new life into their circle of love.
In the delivery room, Heidi's determination and strength filled the space. With Scott by her side, holding her hand and offering unwavering support, she took a deep breath and prepared for the final stage of labor.
"I can do this, Scott. We're about to meet our baby!" Heidi said confidently. After all the workouts and yoga exercises for the pregnant woman she did almost every day, her labor wasn't too long like the typical normal delivery.
Scott, his eyes brimming with pride and love, leaned in and gave her a reassuring kiss. "You're amazing, Heidi. I'm right here with you. We'll meet our little one together."
With a powerful push, Heidi gave her all, and suddenly, the room was filled with the sound they had all been waiting for—a baby's first cry.
Tears welled up in Heidi's eyes as she saw her baby for the first time, a radiant smile of pure joy and relief gracing her face. Scott, overcome with emotion, watched in awe as their child entered the world. "You did it, Heidi! Our baby is here, and you were incredible!"
He kissed her gently, expressing his love and admiration for her strength during this momentous occasion. Then, as their newborn child was placed in Heidi's chest, tears of joy flowed freely. The room was filled with the sweet scent of new life, the triumphant cries of their baby, and the profound love between husband and wife.
Mallory and Harris, standing by in the waiting room, could only imagine the magical scene unfolding on the other side of that door. "It's a beautiful beginning, isn't it?" Mallory said, meeting Harris's gaze.
"Absolutely. I'm happy for Scott and Heidi," Harris said, a smirk crept out of his lips. "Do you think we can do the same soon?"
Mallory's eyebrow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, Harriet is 5 years old; I think it's time we give her a playmate," Harris said as he playfully winked.
Mallory's mouth wide open in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? Do you think this is some kind of a game? We are not a married couple like Heidi and Scott."
"Then, let's get married," Harris said with enthusiasm.
Mallory blushed but tried to hide her excitement at the thought of marrying Harris. "You say that now that I talked about us not being a married couple. It's obvious you only wanted to have another child." Mallory raised a finger in Harris's face. "Let me remind you, Harris, I am not your babymaker."
Harris couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "Baby, I was ready to marry you the first time I met you."
"BS... you were with supermodels by the time we met. Don't fool me, Mr. Thompson."
"It wasn't me who was after them. They cling to me like a  disease. But trust me when I say, from the very first day I saw you, I never laid my eyes on other women."
"Is that so?" Mallory said in doubt, raising an eyebrow.
"If you won't believe me, I'll kiss you right here, right now!"
They started to get some people's attention, which led to Mallory reprimanding Harris. "Harris, stop! Your voice was so loud, people started looking at us," she said, glaring at Harris. The hospital is definitely not the right place to flirt with each other.
"Alright, but we need to talk about this. Just the two of us."
Mallory rolled her eyes. "Fine!" She said, left with no choice.
Later on, the hospital room was filled with warmth and excitement as Amanda and David rushed in, their faces beaming with the joy of the moment.
Heidi, who had just cradled her precious baby in her arms, welcomed her friends with a tired but elated smile.
"Amanda, David, you made it! Come meet our little one."
Amanda and David, who had been on a whirlwind European tour, were eager to see their dear friends and their new baby boy.
David was holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers, a thoughtful gift to celebrate the occasion.
"Mallory, Harris, thanks for letting us know that you're coming too. As soon as Scott called us, we hurried and prepared to visit and check the baby boy."
"No problem. I'd love us to be all present. The more merrier, as they say," Mallory said with enthusiasm.
They all nodded in agreement. "Congratulations, Heidi and Scott! Your baby boy, he's beautiful!" Amanda said, shifting to the newborn baby.
"We can't wait to meet and hold the little guy," David added.
As the baby boy lay in Heidi's arms, the group began to chat about the most pressing topic at hand—the baby's name.
"We've been thinking about names. Maybe something that runs in the family or something unique?" Scott said. "We have prepared two names to choose from, Jacob and Charlie."
"Yeah, we've considered both. But we'd love to hear your thoughts, too," Heidi chimed in.
Amanda and David exchanged thoughtful glances. They knew this was an important decision for their friends. "How about something that combines your family traditions and a touch of uniqueness?" Amanda suggested.
"Like a name that's meaningful to both of you," David added. Heidi and Scott nodded, appreciating their friends' suggestions.
Heidi "That sounds perfect. Any ideas, Mallory and Harris?" She asked the two love birds, holding hands. They were just arguing outside the emergency room and after a few minutes, they were fine. The two clearly have a stronger relationship.
"Well, we thought of 'Jacob,' which could be a nice blend of tradition and uniqueness," Mallory answered.
"It's a classic name with a modern twist. What do you think?" Harris said.
Heidi and Scott gazed at each other, contemplating the suggestion. The name 'Jacob' hung in the air, a possibility filled with significance.
"It's lovely. Jacob, it is," Scott said.
Heidi smiled, and the name seemed to resonate with them, as though it was the perfect choice for their little one.
As they continued to talk, the room was filled with the aura of friendship, new beginnings, and love. The baby boy, named Jacob, had brought their close-knit group even closer, sharing in the joys and hopes that new life brings.
While friends celebrated in the hospital because of the newborn baby Jacob, Dominic's life started to crumble.